With the strong-willed intensity of a goal-line offense, a small group of community volunteers stands poised to push through a $5.5 million sports complex at Scotts Valley High School.
The absurdity of playing “home” games off-campus because of no outdoor facilities has been a sore subject since the high school was constructed in 1999. In 2014, the Scotts Valley Sports Complex (SVSC) committee was formed in alliance with the Falcon Club, a school-based registered non-profit.
“We have it (sports complex) locked and loaded from a state permit perspective,” said sports complex co-chair Allison Niday. “We’d like to get it done this summer.”
Other committee members include co-chair Corbett Wright, treasurer Tim Emanuelson, Marnie McMillan, Bobby Kilpatrick, Scott Sutter, Stephen Hoversten (graduate of the first class at SVHS).
The volunteers realize that the complex will lead to more than sports excellence.
“Research shows a direct correlation between team sports and academic performance,” said Wright, citing a study by the Los Angeles Unified School District. “High school athletes achieve between .55 and .74 higher GPA than non-athletes.”
Up until this point, Northern California-based Robert A. Bothman Construction, a company who specializes in sports and recreational facilities, has donated realistic budgeting numbers.
Although fund-raising has presented its share of challenges during the past four years, the actual construction should take no more than 120 days to complete, according to Niday.
Once complete, the complex will include a turf playing field with all-weather rubberized track, 1,143-seat bleachers for home and visiting spectators on both sides of the field, features to accommodate all track and field events, press facilities, out buildings for ticket sales and food and beverage vending, modernized gym bath rooms to reflect ADA laws.
Through cash donations and pledges, the SVSC has raised about $1.3 million to date and need another $1.5 million to break ground.
Niday said the SVSC realizes it is not possible to raise all the funds prior to breaking ground. The committee and the Falcon Club (which raises about $200,000 annually to pay for the athletic department) have formed an arrangement with the Scotts Valley Unified School District and Santa Cruz County Bank to meet financial obligations.
“Thus far, the SVSC fundraising efforts have been the most-successful ever,” said Niday, whose children graduated from the district’s schools. “The community has shown a clear interest in the sports facility problems at Scotts Valley High School. We have major donors in the works.”
One thing is clear, the school district will never have funding to build a sports complex because of the quagmire of state regulations that began with Proposition 13.
“Scotts Valley High School is the only high school in the county without an all-weather track and field,” said Niday, who previously served as an elected member of the school board. “The track is unusable for even physical education or basic track or cross country practices.”
Other donors agree.
“After watching my daughter’s games for years while sitting in the dirt with many other parents, I knew I had to get involved,” said Scott Sutter, a donor of the SVSC committee member. “All of the other local schools have functional and beautiful facilities. It’s time we had them too.”
While the SVSC has been working on fundraising and realistic loan contingencies, the project has slipped by a year, but now the proverbial ducks are all in a row, and we’ll be ready to go when we reach our first goal of $2.5 million, Niday said.
Here are the terms of the loan:
- The SVSC will secure pledges and cash totaling $2. 5 million -$3 million prior to the Scotts Valley Unified School District signing a loan agreement with the lender.
- Funds raised will include $700,000 in cash.
- SVSC will continue fundraising efforts until the loan is paid in full.
- Falcon Club will commit excess gate monies collected annually for loan repayment.
- School district will gradually assume financial responsibility for coaches’ stipends.
